They spoke days after Bruno, who retired in 1996 aged 34 having suffered a detached retina, announced on ITV's This Morning that he was "coming back into boxing" to help him cope with the effects of his medication.

Rachel said: "I love my father and I'm so proud of him, but when he retired he'd achieved everything he set out to achieve.

They feel talk of a comeback has been triggered by their 21-year-old brother Franklin's moves to take up amateur boxing.

Bruno has posted on Twitter that the British Boxing Board of Control had informed his agent that "should I apply for a licence this would not be granted".

Earlier this week, his agent Dave Davies confirmed the board had been in touch, saying: "Frank, like many other former sports stars, misses the good times when he was in the boxing ring and watching his son train has reignited his wish to return to the ring.

"However, we have had confirmation today ... that should an application for a boxing licence be received from Frank, it would be declined.

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He told This Morning that the drugs prescribed for his condition had made him feel suicidal and unable to sleep, but that he is still bursting with energy.

He was recently pictured training with former light welterweight and welterweight champion Ricky Hatton.

Bruno became the WBC heavyweight champion of the world in 1995, when he defeated Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium. He lost the belt in his next fight to Mike Tyson in 1996, after which he retired from boxing.